Cancer Medications Found To Potentially Treat & Cure HIV

HIV, till today, is still a virus that is unbeatable. While there are procedures, such as HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), that can significantly reduce your risk of contracting HIV, HIV is still not 100% curable.

However, researchers have made a significant breakthrough in their HIV cure research, with the possibility to utilise certain cancer medications. This result can be dated back to 2017, when a strong chemotherapeutic medication, JQ1, was found to be capable of reactivating latent HIV cells, allowing it to be eradicated.

Further experiments with another cancer medicine have revealed that it could be administered to eradicate latent HIV cells, which have always been the problem that modern HIV treatment has failed to target.

Eradicating the latent cells

Research has been underway to target latent cells, which have eluded many modern HIV treatments. Venetoclax, a medication administered for blood cancer, has been studied for its capability to target latent HIV cells.

In the clinical trials, the medication is effective in attacking HIV cells that have been dormant, delaying viral rebound by two weeks. Viral rebound refers to the level of detectable HIV in the blood after a certain timeframe of complete suppression.

Venetoclax was able to delay viral rebound even for those who were not going through antiretroviral therapy (ART) during the clinical trials.

The limitations of current HIV treatments

At this point in our medical advancement, ART is still effective in managing HIV. In fact, during this year’s International AIDS Society Conference, WHO emphasised the effectiveness of ART. While it does not cure HIV, it can suppress the viral load to undetectable status.

With that being said, HIV is able to remain undetectable for a long time, “hiding” from our immune system in many ways. The issue is that ART is not able to target these “hidden” cells. Thus, the moment the individual stops ART, chances are the HIV will resurface again.

The existing research mentioned above exists to work hand in hand with ART to eradicate HIV completely, allowing for a comprehensive treatment approach. It has been long established that finding a single cure for HIV is impossible with current medical technology. However, combining varying classes of medication targeting specific aspects of HIV is possible.

Conclusion

While the initial results seem promising, the cure for HIV is still far off from proving effective for general use. The researchers have stated that by 2024, the clinical trials will be extended to countries such as Australia and Denmark to test its efficacy.

While we wait for the possible future where HIV can be cured completely, it is still vital to highlight that the virus can be managed to a greater extent. With ART, HIV-positive patients are able to suppress their viral load, enabling them to live a normal life.

However, the best way to avoid such issues is to prevent HIV and any other forms of STD completely.

And that can be achieved by practising safe sex, meaning wearing condoms during sexual intercourse unless you have plans to get pregnant, as well as conducting regular STD tests if you are sexually active, no matter whether you are in a monogamous relationship or not.

Visit Elyon Clinic to inquire about our extensive range of STD screenings and testing today!